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Take Action For National Volunteer Week

Posted on 04/16/2012

From volunteer veterans to first-timers, there’s never a bad time to volunteer. And although we know that there doesn’t have to be a reason to volunteer, President Nixon gave us a reason anyway. In 1974, he established National Volunteer Week to put a greater emphasis on volunteering. This year, the week began yesterday and runs through April 21.

To all of our volunteers, we thank you for your service to our organization and to all of the other organizations you support. Our success and the success of all nonprofit organizations depend on your contributions to our causes. Here are some ways to celebrate National Volunteer Week.

Celebrate People in Action
Not only is volunteer week a great time to raise awareness about volunteering, but it is also a great time to make a self-assessment. The theme of National Volunteer Week is to “celebrate people in action.” We can always improve on our altruistic endeavors, and this slogan can be your motivation. First, identify what organizations you have helped or are passionate about. Then take time to look back at what you’ve accomplished in the past year. Maybe you’re satisfied with the amount of effort you have contributed, or you could find that you fell below your expected mark. Keep in mind that nobody remembers the person who thought about making a difference, they only remember the person who actually went and performed the actions. So use this week as a reminder to get out there and make your ideas a reality, because all it takes is the first step to change the world.

Not So Ordinary
While you may think that you have little to offer to an organization, you may want to think twice. President Barack Obama said it best when he described the history of our nation. “Our nation has been profoundly shaped by ordinary Americans who have volunteered their time and energy to overcome extraordinary challenges,” Obama said. All it takes is that one little spark to be ignited to start a fire of change. So, get out in the community and help spread the word about your volunteer passions so people want to help you give back.

Tomorrow, This Week and Always
While the week is a great reminder to volunteer, President Obama released a statement regarding National Volunteer Week, in which he called Americans to act more than just the week of April 15-21. “I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives,” Obama said. So let’s all come together this week, and in the future to volunteer and better the world around us. Nothing can quite beat the feeling you know that you’ve helped make a difference in someone’s life. And that life may just be yours.

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a program of Children's Aid and Family Services, is a recognized leader in community and school-based education programs about alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Founded in 1979, The Center provides extensive resources, information, expertise and support in understanding and preventing alcohol and drug abuse and advocates for responsive prevention and treatment services. The Center offers evidence-based programs to communities and schools, as well as a full-service resource and referral center. The Center has programs, services and workshops for people of all ages to strengthen families and promote healthy lifestyles. The Center is the official Prevention Resource Center for Bergen County and towns East of the Passaic River in Passaic County.

Heroin: The Silent Epidemic

It has been all over the local news. There has been a dramatic increase in teenagers and young adults using heroin, especially in Bergen County. Below are a series of resources and articles for parents.

Watch the Bergen County Prevention Coalition PSA entitled The voices of Addiction of Bergen County. The video tells the stories of three people who live in Bergen County, New Jersey; a mom whose 21 year-old daughter passed away after overdosing on heroin, a young man incarcerated in the Bergen County jail who was a high school track star and began using painkillers when he broke his arm in several places, and a young woman who began using heroin when she was 17 and is now in a recovery program. Their stories began similarly - drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana were fun things to do and not a big deal or anything that was of great concern. The link between early use and the use of pills and heroin are what followed with each story’s outcome different from the other; with death, incarceration, and recovery.

We want you to know that they are not alone in managing issues related to addiction, there are resources available for help and support. Reach out to The Center for Drug and Alcohol Resources at 201-740-7069 or thecenter@cafsnj.org for more information or to access resources.

Turn in your expired or unused prescriptions for safe disposal.There are many sites throughout Bergen County where you can safely dispose of your expired or used prescriptions. See the link below.

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources was awarded a contract from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, to develop the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program in Bergen County. The purpose of the Program is to provide one-on-one assistance in emergency rooms by an individual in long-term recovery to those who have overdosed on opioids and were given Narcan by a law enforcement official, EMT or hospital staff, to end the ‘revolving door’ of cycling in and out of drug overdose situations. OORP can be dispatched 24 hours a day 7 days per week when Narcan is administered.

TCADR Self-Administered Screening Tool

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources (TCADR) has launched a web-based interactive screening tool designed to provide users with appropriate referrals to addiction treatment services. TCADR Self-Administered Screening Tool guides the user through a short series of questions and, based on the responses, generates two referrals to treatment providers local to Bergen County, New Jersey and its immediate vicinity. While not intended to diagnose a substance abuse problem, the tool utilizes the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria to provide referrals to programs that are appropriate to the user's needs. The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive criteria used for the placement of individuals with alcohol and drug problems. The tool is not designed to take the place of an assessment by an addictions professional, but it will take the guesswork out of where to turn for help.